Chocolate City artiste Blaqbonez has released his new album, ‘No Excuses,’ a robust addition to his expansive discography. The rapper’s recent feud with fellow artist Odumodublvck provides a compelling backdrop, as both rappers released albums in the same month, just days apart, and even share some collaborators, including features from Pa Salieu and production from Telz and Ayo Maff.
Renowned for his consistent output, ‘No Excuses’ marks Blaqbonez’s seventh project since rising to fame. His work rate and sonic prowess remain impeccable. Over the last six months, his rivalry with Odumodublvck has been a dominant topic within the Nigerian Hip-hop community, playing out more through social media sparring on X than through musical battle.
On this album, however, Blaqbonez holds nothing back. On “ACL,” the fourth track, he addresses the issue directly, likening Odumodublvck to a fifty-year-old man and a clout chaser. This theme continues on “Everlasting Taker,” a track where he proclaims his own sonic mastery. The upbeat song features ad-libs from Prettyboy D-O and seamlessly segues into “Consistency.” This dancehall tune pairs Blaqbonez with AJ Tracey, with the two artists bouncing off each other to celebrate their skills and achievements.
The log-drum-centric “Aura 4 Aura” finds Pa Salieu delivering a drill-inflected verse, though the message is nearly derailed by subpar mixing and mastering. When Blaqbonez explores dancehall, he cleverly infuses it with Afrobeats elements, playing to his strengths. On “Bizzy Body,” the featured artists (Valiant, The Kazez) demonstrate a better grasp of the song’s vibe, though Blaqbonez still shows a level of mastery. He makes up for any lapses on the Olamide-assisted “Nati,” though the track’s brilliance is largely confined to its first verse.
Throughout the album, Blaqbonez wears different sonic fabrics as he traverses genres, though his themes remain restrictive—hedonism, love, and life. He often shines brightest when singing about these topics. However, he repeatedly reverts to his issues with Odumodublvck, a subject he finds difficult to ignore, which at times hinders the album’s flow.
On “Despacito,” the velvety vocals of 2025 star boy Fola are amplified by Blaqbonez’s heartfelt lyrics, creating an R&B showcase where both artists play to their strengths. “Just Hustlin” is built on 1990s Hip-hop samples as the artist raps about his quest for money. When he attempts a soulful tune on “Good Time,” the brilliance is drowned out by shoddy mastering.
“Mary Mary” finds Blaqbonez sending a letter to a materialistic woman, while the previously released “Go Crazy” celebrates the artist’s mastery. “W For Wetego” features Phyno, Young Jonn, and DJ 808, with Phyno delivering the best verse. On “California Issues,” Blaqbonez recollects an encounter with a lady. “Prayer Up” is a fusion of Afrobeats and Trap, marred by drowsy vocals and inordinate lyrics. Ayo Maff and Bella Shmurda connect brilliantly on the thoughtful “Louder,” a strongly emotional track on the album where the trio sings about their struggles and ghetto-inspired stories.
On the penultimate track, “Stacks,” Blaqbonez and Barry Jhay sing about the state of the industry and religion, advising listeners to self-reflect. The mild guitar strings are still overly loud and almost hinder the song’s flow. While uncredited on some streaming platforms, Zinoleesky assists on “Starlife,” which ends the album. With copious background vocals from Oxlade, the track addresses the domino effect of fame, and the crisp trumpet outro is a lovely touch.
“No Excuses” is a brilliant compilation of tracks from Blaqbonez. Despite some forced collaborations and moments of shoddy mastering, it remains a strong demonstration of his sonic mastery. With close to two decades of experience in the music industry, Blaqbonez has shown that it will only get better from here.
DOWNLOAD: ‘NO EXCUSES’ BY BLAQBONEZ
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